Todays message comes from
Revelation 2:1-7. In Revelation Chapter 2, John’s hand was used to write a message to the Ephesian church - members of the Body of Christ who lived in Ephesus, which was near the coast of western Turkey. Jesus said to John through the angel of the Lord, “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Ephesus.” We must remember what was said in Hebrews - "angels are ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation." Hebrews 1:14 Angels help to communicate information between the Heaven and earth realms. And by the way, when I just wrote “Johns hand was used” I immediately thought of Daniel 5 and the hand that God created to write on the wall. Nothing is outside of God’s Will! Praise God! Moving on - the writing said, “This is the message from the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand, the one who walks among the seven gold lampstands (Which was Jesus as we already learned in Revelation Chapter One): “I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don’t tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars. You have patiently suffered for me without quitting.” Isn't it cool how Jesus sees. He knows everything! The Head of the Church knows exactly what His Body does. Jesus proceeds - “But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first! Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches.” You see - the Body of Christ, also known as the Church is the true reflection of Christ in this dark world. We are His lampstands. And we are powered by the Holy Spirit. If we take our eyes off of Christ, and follow the desires of our flesh, we lose our illumination. The church is called to love. The Body does what the Head of the Church says. An yet, Jesus “hates” also - only the deeds, not the vessels. The next verse says, “But this is in your favor: You hate the evil deeds of the Nicolaitans, just as I do.” Jesus hates deeds, not people. He hates certain behaviors, not the jars of clay that act as His vessels. The Nicolaitans were a people who twisted the truth and encouraged each other to eat things offered to idols. The Nicolaitans were false teachers. Their teaching perverted grace and they replaced liberty with license. “They abandoned themselves to pleasure like goats (not sheep) leading a life of self-indulgence.” The deeds of the Nicolaitans were an abomination to God. They took His concept of love and made it human! They twisted God’s truth by forming their own version of love. It was, and it still is, an abomination. I am reminded of what Jesus said in Matthew, “So if your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one hand or one foot than to be thrown into eternal fire with both of your hands and feet. And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.” Matthew 18:8-9 I see tons of Nicolaitans today. Christians who have twisted God’s central doctrine. Christians who are progressive. Christians who have determined what universal love is. Those who reflect the Light are to hate evil deeds, as Christ did. But we are called to love the vessels by being illuminated on the lampstand. Then Jesus said, “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.” Father God, I hear you. Thank you for making clear your message. May these words be a true illumination. I believe I understand your message that was given to the angel of the Church of Ephesus. Thank you for this ministering spirit who continues to do your will, and make your message known. I receive your Spirit - both in true and in love. “To everyone who is victorious I will give fruit from the tree of life in the paradise of God.” Father, I am hungry for Your Word, and I look forward to my reward in Heaven.
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